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Page 21

by Cavanaugh Lee


  Sent:

  Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 6:09 PM

  From:

  Izabell

  To:

  Peter

  Subject:

  Re: Try Again?

  And, I’m the single fiancée. Realize THAT.

  Draft:

  Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 6:19 PM

  From:

  Izabell

  To:

  Peter

  Subject:

  Re: Try Again?

  This e-mail was written but not sent and will save as Draft until further action.

  And, realize something else, now that we’re on the topic: Do you realize that we make love once a week if we’re lucky? Do you realize that you REJECT me 99% of the time because you’re so goddamn tired and burned out? Do you realize that all you ever do now, if you’re not working of course, is watch brainless television and play Wii? I want the romantic, passionate, loving man I fell in love with. Where the hell is he? Where did he go? Did he ever exist, or did you make him up to impress me? Regardless, I want HIM back. If he doesn’t return to me, I don’t know what will happen to us. Please.

  Sent:

  Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 6:35 PM

  From:

  Peter

  To:

  Izabell

  Subject:

  Re: Try Again?

  I’m a single fiancé, too—except that unlike you, I have to work my ass off as well. So, I’m single AND overworked. Thank you, yet again, for making me feel like shit, Izzy.

  Draft:

  Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 6:45 PM

  From:

  Izabell

  To:

  Peter

  Subject:

  Re: Try Again?

  This e-mail was written but not sent and will save as Draft until further action.

  Good. Maybe now you know how I felt when you rejected me with my fucking pants down the other night.

  Sent:

  Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 7:01 PM

  From:

  Izabell

  To:

  Peter

  Subject:

  Re: Try Again?

  I’m not going to feel sorry for you, Peter. I’ve told you again and again that I’ll stand by you if you change your circumstances and actually pick our relationship over your stupid work. So, make a move.

  Shut up and deal already.

  Sent:

  Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 7:09 PM

  From:

  Peter

  To:

  Izabell

  Subject:

  Re: Try Again?

  I don’t have a fucking choice.

  And, what the fuck does “shut up and deal already” mean?

  Sent:

  Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 7:24 PM

  From:

  Izabell

  To:

  Peter

  Subject:

  Re: Try Again?

  If I hear one more time that you don’t have a choice, I’m going to SCREAM.

  Sent:

  Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 7:35 PM

  From:

  Peter

  To:

  Izabell

  Subject:

  Re: Try Again?

  This is life, Izzy. You don’t seem to realize that. Life is not pink elephants and lemonade, like you seem to think it is. You live in a dream world if you think everything is fabulous and easy and sparkly all of the time. Life is tough. Marriage will be tough. And, every single couple we know is a hell of a lot more miserable than we are so I would say we’re doing a lot better than MOST. And, that’s all you can ask for.

  Sent:

  Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 7:43 PM

  From:

  Izabell

  To:

  Peter

  Subject:

  Re: Try Again?

  All you want in a relationship is to be a little better than “miserable”? Are you kidding me? There is more to life than that, Peter. And, I want more than that. Do you?

  Sent:

  Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 8:03 PM

  From:

  Peter

  To:

  Izabell

  Subject:

  Re: Try Again?

  You are unrealistic and have idealistic dreams when it comes to love. I don’t want fireworks. I want calm. Boring would even be nice.

  Sent:

  Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 8:15 PM

  From:

  Izabell

  To:

  Peter

  Subject:

  Re: Try Again?

  Glad we got that settled. So much for our night at home together. Screw you.

  Sent:

  Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 8:29 PM

  From:

  Peter

  To:

  Izabell

  Subject:

  Re: Try Again?

  Ditto. I don’t even want to come home tonight. I’d rather work late.

  Sent:

  Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 9:32 PM

  From:

  Annette

  To:

  Izabell, Elizabeth, Brooke

  Subject:

  Re: I need to get out of the house

  Cut and pasted below:

  Fishtankguy Seeks Last First Date with Mermaid. “No distance is long distance if it makes two hearts happy & content—Time to meet a special lady who is ready to enjoy & discover the next journey with a loyal and devoted partner. My life is complete except for the absence of my special friend and partner. Is it YOU? When you are in Love you can’t fall asleep because reality is better than your dreams.”

  Sent:

  Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 9:49 PM

  From:

  Brooke

  To:

  Elizabeth, Annette

  Subject:

  Re: I need to get out of the house

  Umm, maybe you need to set Fishtankguy up with Izzy? He sounds almost as idealistic as she is.

  Sent:

  Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 9:51 PM

  From:

  Elizabeth

  To:

  Brooke, Annette

  Subject:

  Re: I need to get out of the house

  True enough. Though in Izzy’s defense she actually believes that stuff Fishtankguy writes about.

  Sent:

  Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 9:55 PM

  From:

  Brooke

  To:

  Elizabeth, Annette

  Subject:

  Re: I need to get out of the house

  And, Peter appears not to.

  Sent:

  Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 9:59 PM

  From:

  Annette

  To:

  Brooke, Elizabeth

  Subject:

  Re: I need to get out of the house …

  Are they having problems? I didn’t realize it was that serious …

  At least there’s Fishtankguy for her.

  Sent:

  Thursday, October 9, 2008 at 10:29 PM

  From:

  Izabell

  To:

  Annette

  Subject:

  Re: I need to get out of the house

  Hey Netty,

  I was just curious … why did you and your ex get a divorce several years back?

  I was just wondering if there was one big reason—like, for example, another woman (or another man) ;-), or if you were incompatible, or if you grew apart, or … you know, a reason …

  That’s it! No biggie! Just sitting here by myself late on a Thursday night, pondering the ins and outs of the world and relationships and all the stuff dreams are made of!

  —Izzy

  Draft:

  Friday, October 10, 2008 at 5:08 AM

  From:

  Peter

  To:

  Rose

  Subject:

  Talk

  This e-mail was wr
itten but not sent and will save as Draft until further action.

  Rose,

  I’ve been meaning to talk to you for several months now … but I haven’t worked up the nerve. I don’t even know how to say this to you, but I guess I’ll just say it like it is. I haven’t had a weekend off since the end of June. I work until 9 or 10 PM every night, sometimes later. I think my fiancée is going to leave me because I don’t have the time or energy to do anything but sleep and watch television when I get home (and I’m rarely ever home as it is). Do you have any idea about the work schedule going forward? I mean, is this going to get a little better after the hearing in December? Or, will there be another hearing, and then another hearing, and then another hearing after that? I need to know these things, because if it continues to be unmanageable, I think I may need to find a new job. I miss my life.

  Peter

  Sent:

  Friday, October 10, 2008 at 8:10 AM

  From:

  Rose

  To:

  Peter

  Subject:

  Florida

  I need you to come with me to the depositions in Florida this weekend. Have Sue book your flight. You’ll leave on Friday afternoon and return on Sunday evening.

  —Rose

  Sent:

  Friday, October 10, 2008 at 9:12 AM

  From:

  Rose

  To:

  Peter

  Subject:

  Secretarial Support Staff

  Peter,

  My assistant quit. This said, it will be up to you to print out your own memos and photocopy your own work. You, as well as the others, will have to pick up the slack until the position is filled.

  —Rose

  Draft:

  Friday, October 10, 2008 at 9:34 AM

  From:

  Peter

  To:

  Arnold

  Subject:

  Job Inquiry

  This e-mail was written but not sent and will save as Draft until further action.

  Arnold,

  My mother, Irena, gave me your contact info. She told me there may be an opening for a biology teacher at your high school. If that is the case, I would be interested in submitting my resume. I got my PhD in Biology at Harvard and then went on to earn my law degree at Columbia. Please get back to me at your convenience and let me know the details.

  Thanks in advance,

  Peter Schultz

  Sent:

  Friday, October 10, 2008 at 9:35 AM

  From:

  Peter

  To:

  Izabell

  Subject:

  Re: Florida

  See below.

  ----------Forwarded message----------

  Sent:

  Friday, October 10, 2008 at 8:10 AM

  From:

  Rose

  To:

  Peter

  Subject:

  Florida

  I need you to come with me to the depositions in Florida this weekend. Have Sue book your flight. You’ll leave on Friday afternoon and return on Sunday evening.

  —Rose

  Sent:

  Friday, October 10, 2008 at 10:04 AM

  From:

  Annette

  To:

  Izabell

  Subject:

  Re: I need to get out of the house

  Wow, deep thoughts for a late Thursday night. ;-)

  Just got this, btw, or would’ve responded sooner, because there’s nothing I like more than talking about my ex-husband, LOL (in fact, I’d much rather send crazy e-mails from my Match suitors in my spare time). Let’s see … why did I get a divorce? Well, I filed for divorce, for one. He didn’t want a divorce. He thought we were “fine.” And, I guess it was just that—I didn’t want to be just “fine.” I wanted to be happy. We’d been married since we were twenty-one (way too young to get married, FYI), and perhaps we grew apart. But, even so, I guess the only way I can describe it was that I had this moment. There were obviously many, many moments over the years, but it was this one particular moment that made me know it was over:

  We went to the same Mexican restaurant every Thursday, El Taco. And, every Thursday, I ordered a cheese enchilada; him, three tamales with a side of rice and beans in a separate bowl; us, two margaritas each with an appetizer of cheese dip (no jalapeños) and chips.

  One Thursday, for some reason, I felt like something different. So, I ordered shrimp fajitas and guacamole for a starter. And, he (my ex-husband, that is) questioned me about it. Then, later on, I ordered a third margarita, and you’d have thought hell froze over. He just couldn’t handle the possibility that I— we—were doing something different. He pouted all night.

  While I watched him, I thought to myself:

  “Is this it?”

  “Is this my Thursday for the rest of my life?”

  Well, that was it. It was that night I realized the monotony our marriage had become. We probably could’ve changed it if we had we caught it sooner. But, we were both too busy being … monotonous.

  I filed for divorce the next day. (And, he didn’t even fight me on it, which was telling.)

  Does that answer your question?

  If you need to talk about something, don’t be afraid to call me. Are you and Peter having serious problems? I know you are having some spats, but … is it serious?

  —Netty

  Sent:

  Friday, October 10, 2008 at 10:15 AM

  From:

  Annette

  To:

  Elizabeth, Brooke

  Subject:

  Re: I need to get out of the house

  FYI: Izzy and Peter are definitely on the rocks. And, I think it may be serious.

  Sent:

  Friday, October 10, 2008 at 11:12 AM

  From:

  Izabell

  To:

  Elizabeth

  Subject:

  This Weekend

  Hey Girl,

  Peter will be gone all weekend in Florida working. Big change, huh? Oh, right, the only change will be that he’ll be working 24-7 in FLORIDA, and not HERE. Can you tell I’ve turned into a bitter old woman? Anywhooo, let’s go out tonight. I’m in desperate need of a very fun time at a very fun bar so that I can feel like a human being again. Oh, and let’s dress sexy.

  —Izzy

  Sent:

  Friday, October 10, 2008 at 4:13 PM

  From:

  Elizabeth

  To:

  Izabell

  Subject:

  Re: This Weekend

  The Whiskey Park? PJ’s friend, Michael, wants to come, too. Is that OK? You know … he’s always had a crush on you.

  SMS From: Michael (Mobile)

  October 10, 2008 10:01 PM

  U look hot tonite.

  SMS From: Izabell (Mobile)

  October 10, 2008 10:03 PM

  R u flirting w/ me? U do realize I’m an engaged woman …

  SMS From: Michael (Mobile)

  October 10, 2008 10:05 PM

  Where the hell’s ur fiancé?

  SMS From: Izabell (Mobile)

  October 10, 2008 10:07 PM

  Valid pt. I’m still not going home w/ u sorry.

  SMS From: Michael (Mobile)

  October 10, 2008 10:08 PM

  Ur loss. Well, I’ll at least buy u a drink. ;-) Shall we?

  SMS From: Izabell (Mobile)

  October 10, 2008 10:09 PM

  We shall. Why r we communicating via text

  when ur standing rite next 2 me?

  Sent:

  Saturday, October 11, 2008 at 1:31 AM

  From:

  Izabell

  To:

  Rory

  Subject:

  Drunk

  Rory. Izzy here. Drnk. Need boy’s opinion and ur boy. Why Peter not love me as mch as I loveEe him? I’m the Sad.

  Sent:

  Saturday, October 11, 2008 1:36 AM

  From:

  Rory


  To:

  Izabell

  Subject:

  Re: Drunk

  Ah, sweetie. I’m not even religious, but the Bible says: “A man can’t serve two masters.”

  Dude, if God said it, it has to be true.

  Cut your losses. Run. And, the heavens spoke. Bahahahah!

  Outta here. Headed to a swank after-party. .

  Draft:

  Saturday, October 11, 2008 at 1:38 AM

  From:

  Izabell

  To:

  Marty

  Subject:

  Ooops

  This e-mail was written but not sent and will save as Draft until further action.

  Drnk and shuldn’t b e-mailin u.

  Want 2 met me at Bar? with Elizabeth PJ.

  Sent:

  Saturday, October 11, 2008 at 5:15 PM

 

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